More news in brief.
Chad closes border with Sudan
N'DJAMENA -Chad's government announced yesterday it was closing its eastern border with Sudan after Khartoum broke off diplomatic ties on Sunday.
Sudan cut diplomatic relations following a rebel attack on the capital on Saturday which it said was supported by Chadian president Idriss Déby. - (Reuters)
Packed ferry sinks off Haiti
PORT-AU-PRINCE -At least 12 people drowned and others were missing and feared dead after a packed ferry sank off the southern coast of Haiti, authorities said yesterday.
Jean Baptiste Langeton, a municipal official in Gressier on the southern outskirts of the impoverished Caribbean nation's capital, said the boat had more than 150 people on board when it capsized late on Saturday or early Sunday morning. - (Reuters)
Singer to attend Malawi court
LIPUNGA, MALAWI -The father of a Malawian child whom Madonna wants to adopt said yesterday he supported her case but wanted the US pop star to bring his boy home for visits.
Madonna is expected to appear in a Malawian court on Thursday for what is expected to be a final and favourable ruling on whether she can adopt David Banda.
She began adoption proceedings in 2006 and the two-year-old has been living with her and her husband Guy Ritchie in London since then.
Critics have accused the Malawian government of skirting laws that ban non-residents from adopting children there. - (Reuters)
'Eastenders' scenes criticised
LONDON -Two controversial episodes of EastEndershave been criticised by the BBC's complaints unit.
The episodes saw Max Branning being drugged and buried alive before finally being released by his wife Tanya. Viewers complained the scenes were inappropriate for a pre-watershed drama series with a family audience. The complaints were upheld. - (PA)